fynbos whisperer

SOUTHEASTER

June 2023 /Santie Gouws

Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa

On the second day

 - it was not sudden - 

the wind was born.

Proteus' inflicted curse,

or perhaps the oceans breathed her out

just to inhale her again a month later.

She sighed pained stories,

tormented tales of destruction.

Born old,

she might've been wise if not so wild.

Overcome by jealousy at the rising wonder,

everyday she grew stronger and stronger,

swallowing whole rainbows,

covering Huriǂoaxa

in a cloud.

For days and days,

she lamented in anguish,

- storms and hail - 

thrashing the mountain,

whipping the oceans

and everything else

into a frenzy

of down-pouring 

rock.

Finally exhausted

from her devilish trick,

 - tattered crows flying about - 

eyes wide open

she fell asleep,

a moment of rest

in the lion's lap.

Footnote:

HURIǂOAXA is the name the KhoeKhoe gave Table Mountain, meaning 'mountain risen out of the ocean'.

PROTEUS, in Greek mythology, is the son of Poseidon, a sea-god who could see into the future, but had to be forced to tell it, changing form whilst doing so. The Protea Family of plants occurring on Table Mountain, is named after Proteus. 

SOUTHEASTER is the infamous prevailing summer wind occurring on the Cape Peninsula, Cape Town and Table Mountain that will literally blow you off the mountain if you don't watch out.

The LION refers to Lion's Head, a smaller mountain peak overlooking Cape Town, famous for sunset summit hikes.

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